Donnie Summers, the unsung lead blocker for Bill "Earthquake'' Enyart, has passed away

Donnie Summers, the unsung blocking back for All-American Bill "Earthquake'' Enyart on Oregon State's famous Giant Killer team in 1967, died of a heart attack on Feb. 26 in Seattle, according to former teammates.

Bill "Earthquake'' Enyart carried 50 times for an NCAA record 299 yards in a game at Utah in 1968 - all of it behind blocking back Donnie Summers, who recently passed away. Summers, say former teammates, was one tough son of a gun.

Summers, who played in 1966, 1967, and 1968, was considered to be - pound for pound - one of the toughest players in school history.

He was the lead blocker on the Dee Andros-coached squads that pounded teams with OSU's bread-and-butter "57-power'' and "58-power'' running plays that had Summers leading the 6-foot-3, 236-pound Enyart into the hole.

Steve Preece, the quarterback on that Giant Killer team in 1967 that beat No. 2 Purdue, tied No. 2 UCLA, and knocked off No. 1 USC, said the following about Summers in an email to several former teammates:

"He was a "one of a kind" - a fine football player, a dependable offensive mate and one tough (phrase deleted) as I'm sure he'd be inclined to call himself.

"I can't remember how many times he protected my QB (rear end) from late hits or just plain knocked the crap out of someone trying to stop our offense. You had to love the guy. It was a pleasure to have played with the man; and may God bless his family and Donnie.

"Remember him in your prayers.''

Bob Mayes, a notoriously non-throwing back-up quarterback in '67 and '68, told a hilarious story about the game at Utah on Sept. 28, 1968.

Mayes started for an injured Preece and basically was entrusted with two plays - either hand off to Enyart, or fake a handoff and run the ball himself.

Enyart would carry 50 times. ... that turned out to be the game where Enyart ran for a school-record 299 yards, at the time an NCAA record.

Apparently, all of those running plays took a toll on Summers, the exhausted blocking back.

As Mayes remembered, "late in the fourth quarter, Summers comes back to the huddle and says "(expletives deleted) Mayes! I was 6-2 when I started this game. Look at me now! ... I am tired of blocking that linebacker."